Muscat: The Sultanate is the first country in the world to be recognised as free of trachoma, according to Oman's Ministry of Health.

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, received the Sultanate's certificate of the trachoma disease granted by the Middle East Region Alliance for Trachoma, in cooperation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).

Photo: Supplied

According to the WHO, trachoma is a disease of the eye caused by infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis, and can lead to blindness.

Al Saidi received the certificate during the celebration of the sixth anniversary of the Sultanate's eradication of trachoma, which was held on Monday evening at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Qurum.